Althaea rosea, thecommon hollyhock, is native to Sichuan. It is a perennial flower. The flowering period is from June to August. June is the time when wheat is ripe, and the time when hollyhock flowers first bloom, so people call hollyhock "barley ripe".

It is the iconicflower of the rustic countryside. It is not fragile, easy to grow, and wellmanaged. Just digging a hole in the front or back of the farmhouse, and sprinkling a few flower seeds, it can grow wildly, and it blooms a lot, hence it is deeply loved by people.Hollyhock flowers are terminal single or double petals in raceme, blooming in a wide variety of colors including red, purple, pink and white. It prefers full sun and tolerates partial shade. Its tender leaves and flowers are edible.

The whole hollyhock can be used as medicine to clear away heat, stop bleeding, reduce swelling, and detoxify. It is widely distributed in China and is cultivated in East, Central, and North China.